Construction crews struck a large gas main Wednesday afternoon at a shopping center in East Meadow, forcing the evacuation of eight businesses and temporarily disrupting operations along Hempstead Turnpike.

Fire officials said the gas leak occurred during renovation work at the shopping center. As a precaution, businesses in the area were evacuated while crews worked to repair the damaged gas line.

"We didn't know anything was happening until the equipment showed up," said Marty Karfinkle, who was working at Pet Supplies Plus. "Then they came in and told us to evacuate the store."

Karfinkle said employees and customers were quickly moved out of the businesses and into the parking lot.

"Everyone was chased out of the stores and all the employees were out in the parking lot," he said. "And they kept moving us further and further away."

Officials say businesses were forced to close for around two hours.

"It didn't affect us directly," Karfinkle said. "But we needed to know when we could open up again for business. People kept trying to come in."

National Grid said the leak was repaired on Wednesday and gas service is expected to be restored on Thursday.

Fire officials said the incident posed no threat to the public.